Lambeth Council is launching detailed proposals that will see the South London authority become Britain’s first-ever cooperative council.

Lambeth’s cooperative council model – first trailed in the national media in February 2010, months before David Cameron announced his Big Society proposals – will see residents take on a bigger role in running and shaping local services. The model contrasts with the Tory ‘EasyCouncil’ model in the London Borough of Barnet that aims to create two-tier services with substandard services for the majority and better options available only to those wealthy enough to pay for them. Find out more about the Council’s plans here.

While there are some similarities with the coalition Government’s Big Society proposals, Labour’s model in Lambeth takes a more thorough-going approach applying the cooperative values of fairness, accountability and responsibility across a broad range of services. It is built on four years experience trialling the approach in specific services in Lambeth.

In early November local entrepreneurs from across West Norwood met for the second West Norwood Business Club. The meeting, held at the Kahvah café on Norwood Road, involved lively networking sessions and valuable speeches and advice on the issues facing local business owners.

A wide range of businesses were represented, from industrial services to creative industries. This shows the vibrancy of the business and wider community in West Norwood and underscores the opportunity for Lambeth to promote the area as a business and cultural hub, to help realise the area’s economic potential.

The business club heard from 3 expert speakers, giving valuable and practical advice such as how to secure a business loan during the recession, when many commercial banks are reluctant to provide finance, even to profitable businesses.

You can find out more about the West Norwood Business Club and about future meetings by emailing Huw Morgan-Thomas, Lambeth’s Enterprise Officer, at hmorgan-thomas@lambeth.gov.uk or by calling 020 7926 2471.